Electric switch



July 29, 1924. 1,502,717

I -J. H. DENNEDY ELECTRIC-SWITCH Filed June 29, 1922 2 Sheets-$heet l lligwll'g m,

54142241101 James .34. Dennedg.

aimn x;

Patented July 2%. 1924.

FATE

mam-D Implication filed Jane 28,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMne H. Diznnnm', a citizen of the United States,residing at Detroit, county of "Wayne, State of Michihave invented acertain new and useful .mprovement in ElcctricSwitches, and deerre thefollowing to he a full, clear, and exact description of the some, suchas will enable others skilled in the art togxvhich it pertains to makeand use the same, reference being" had to the accompanying drawings,which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to electric switches which may be operated eithermanually or automatically as desired and the object of the invention isto provide aswitch mechanism comprising a puirpf contact members of theknife type which may he quickly turned to make or break a circuit andthus '-'ent the drawing of an arc. Another of invention is to provide aswilch "inch is very simple and positive in action il in which a veryslight movement of the membeis requircd to actuate the svmch. Anotherobject of the invention is to n ride a switch in which the contactmembers nrc moved slowly throughout 1-. part oi their travel and throughthe remnindcr of the travel are moved very quickly. This quick movementof the switch members is accomplished by means of a series of levers anda spring so that when the levers are moved to a certain point by theactuating member the spring lakes efl'cct to quickly throw (he contactmembers to make or break the circuit. These ohjccts and the severalnovel features of the invention are hereinnficr more fully described andclaimed and the preferred form of construction by which tl'iene objectsare attained is shown in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. l is aplan view of an electric switch embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a. side elevation showing the switch in the closed position.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the switch in the openposition.

Fig. 4 is a view showing lhe'switch connccted to an automatic ope 'ntingdevice' therefor.

we. Ecrlal No. 5713231.

As shown in thc'drawings the switch comprises a base 1 on which ismounted a frame comprising side plates 2 and 3- as will be seen moreparticularly in Fig. 1. A shaft 4: extends through the two framemenihers 221ml 3 at one end and pivoted on the outer sides of these lrn.'ze members on the shaft 4 is n. pair of contact members 5 each formedat the rear end with outturncd flanges (3 and T in V form and also witlrterminui upturned lugs S and f). The end it) of each contact mcmber 5 isadapted for engagement with tho respectivespring contact ll or 12 as thecase may be thcrc being two mmuhcrs 5 and n (onluct member 11 or 1:2 forthe respective member. A circuit consisting oi the lines if) and ll isconnected with these contacts ll and 12 shown in Fig. '1 mid when theends ll) of tho contnc mcmbcrs .3 are passed between the blndcs of: thecontacts ll und ll the circuit is complclcd by passing through 21bracket 15 connecting-the said members The levers 5 arc operated by n Ushaped actuator mem be-r ll; pivotally mounted on a shall 17 exlcndimthrough the two frame members 2 and I} and tho'cnds of legs il of thismember 16 extend between the iinnges t3 and 7 and lugs 8 and hot themembers 5. The cross member of 'ihe ll conne ting, the legs thereof isprovided with an aperture through which th'c end of a pin if) extends.the said pin being pivotnlly mounted at 20 on a. lever 21 which isivotnll v mounted on the shalt l. A coiled spring extends about. the pin19 und between the :dnuil; of the pin and the bar of the U shaped member1o. The lever 21 is pivoted to the shaft 4 between the side'framcs, thclever 21 being formed of two duplicate parts as will be seen from Fig. land the head of the pin 19 extends between the adjacent ends of the twoparts of the lovers 21 as will be readily understood. Near the pivotpoint of the lever 21 is o. shaft parts of "the lever 21 and pi'votallymounted on this shaft and extending downwardly therefrom, as shown inFig. 2, is :1 link 24: which is pivotally connected at with a link 2@which in turn is pivoted on e. shaft 27 mounted in the frame members.There Eilconncctmg the two are preferabiy two iinirs 26 and supportedtherehetween is a shaft 29 on which is pivotally mounted a threaded studshaft. 39. The two part ieverQl above mentioned provided with an arcuateslot- 31 near the raising the pivot of the pin 19 upwurdiy andcompressing the spring 22 and, as this pivot point 20 passes the centeriinc of the U shaped member 16 the spring Wlli act to depress the outerend ot' the member 16 and raise the opposite ends 18 on the pivot 1?.Due i0 the lug 8 and flange 6 the ends 18 of the member 16 by engagingfirst sgsinst the lugs 8 begin to turn the 'memheis 5 end then engagesthe flanges 6 comparatively close to the pivot point of the contactmembers 5 which causes a quick movement of the ends 10 in engaging thecontacts 2? and 28, This action of the ends 18 of the U shaped anemia-er16 in relation to the contact Inemhers 5 is the some either in theupward oii downward movement the lugs 9 and 'i being engaged by the legs18 on down Ward movement thereof This device may he utilized with anartificial refrigerating system in which a compressor operates inconjunction w th a cii'cuiating system having a high and low pressureside. in chi's case the device shown in Fig. i is connected to the lowpressure line 32 by means of :1 coupling 33. The switch in this casecontrols the electric motor for operating the compressor. The switch isshown in Fig, i in the open position at which time the motor andcompressor are not operating but upon a slight pressure being producedin the line 32 the shaft 34 is raised which is connected by means of aturn buckle 35 to the threaded shaft 30 of the switch ch extends throughan aperture 36 provided in the switch base as shown in Fig. 1. U onupward movement of the shaft 34 the switch is thrown to the closedposition shown in Fig. 2 as will be readily understood which starts themotor and compressor and as the pressure is reduced in the line 32 thecoiled spring 37 forces the shaft 34 downwardly which draws the rod 30downwardly and opens the switch as shown in Fig. 31 As this device forautomatically operating the switch is applied for in another applicationI have merely pointed out the rincipal parts by which the switch may eautoeosmv maticailj' operated, this application losing limited to theswitch structure and, as there are many devices for automaticallyoperating a switch of this switch to only one operating device.

From the foregoing description it becomes evident that the device isvery simple and eificient in operecion, will not essily get out oforder, is actuated quickly and. posltively and provides a device whichaccomplishes the objects described.

flanges arranged in substantially V shaped form, n L? shaped actuatormember pivoted at the opposite end of the frame member, the legs of theU shaped actuator extending do nos Wish to limit the use between theflanges or" thesespective contact v member, a pair of outturned iugs oneach contact member, the iegs of the U sheyed actuator during movementfrom one position to the other being adapted to first, engage sherespective iug intermediate tile end and the pivot point of therespective ieg and then engage the flange near the rivet yoint' of thecontact member, and means for setustLig the said actuator.

2. In an electric switch, base, a pair of frame members mounted thereon,a Ushspod actuator pivotaliy mounted intermediste its ends at one end ofthe frame members, a pair of contact members actustshie by the extendingends of the ti shaped actuator, o pair of contacts .zriounted on thehose and adapted to receive the contact members, is lever pivotailymounted at the end-of the frame opposite the actuator, the end of thesaid lever extending between the legs of the U shaped actuator, andbetween the end and pivot point thereof, a pin pivotally connected tothe end of the said lever and ex tending through an apertucs providedtherefor in. the end of the said actueinnn coiled spring about the saidpin engggihg the end of the actuator and exerting p1;es-

sure thereagainst and means for moving ,tii

said lever on its pivot. H

3. In an'electric switch, a base of insulating material, a pair of framemembers mounted thereon, a Li shaped actuator pivot ally mountedintermediate its ends tem end of the frame -members, at pair" of contact members pivotslly mounted on the frame members at the end oppositethe moan? actuator, a pair of contacts on the base for receiving theends of the contact members, each contact member being provided withouttu zned flanges in substantially V shape between which-the legs ofthe U shaped actuator engage, a lever plvotally mounted between theframe members, the free end of the said lever egttending bet ven' the ofthe U shapedecttiator, a ,lng member pivotally connected to the can ofthe said lever and engaging the actuator member, and meanslimitingupward or downward movement of the said lever on its pivot, thearrangement being such that upward movemeat of the lever moves the pivotpoint for the spring member above the pivot oi the U shaped actuator anddownward movement of the lever moves the pivot point of the springmember below the pivot of the actuator.

4. In an electric switch, a base ing material, a pair of frame membersmounted thereon, a U-shaped actuator-gi ally mounted intermediate it\ends one end of the frame members, a pair of coa tact members pivotallymounted at the on posite ends of the frame members and ac tuatablesimultaneously by the legs of the U-shapedo actuator, a pair of contactsmounted on the base and adapted to receive the contact members, a leverpivotally mounted in the end of the frame members opposite the actuator,the end of the lever extending within the U shape-fl actuator andyieldablefmeans connecting the lever and actuator -\vhereby upwardmovement of the lever throws the actuator to close the switch anddownward movement of the lever throws the actuator to open the switch.

5. In an electric switch, a base of insulating material, a contactmounted thereon. a frame member mounted on the base, a contact memberpivots ly mounted on the frame member and adapted engage the contact ofthe base, the said contact member being provided with outturned flangesextending at an angle one to the other, an actuator member pivoted atthe opposite end of the frame member having an end extending between theoi the contact member, means turning the actnator i'neinbcr on itspivot, and a of logs on the contact member between which the actuatormember extends, the. actuator member engaging the respective lug the endand pivot point of the actuator during a portion of its movement and,the end of the actuator engaging th respective flange near the pivotpoint of the contact member during the remainder of its movement.

s. in an electric switch. the combination with cirt i having;aiteiminal. a pivoted Contact lever adapted to )6 turned to enordisengage the terminal, a pivoted of msnlatmovement of the actuator ineither direction on its pivot first engages a partnearest its pivot toturn the contact lever and thereafter engages a part most distant fromits pivot to finally and more rapidly turn the contact lever on itspivot.

7. in an electric svvitch,the combination with a circuit havin aterminal, a pivoted contact lever adapter to be turned to engage ordisengage the terminal, a pivoted ac" tuator lever for the contactlever, said con tact lever having two parts on eachside thereofextending over opposite sides of the actuator, the arrangement beingsuch that movement of the actuator in either direction on its pivotfirst engagesa part nearest its pivotto turn the contact lever and thereafter engages a part most distant from its pivot to finally and morerapidly turn the contact lever on its pivot, and "a spring released toaction to turn the actuator before it engages the portion of the contactlever most distant from its pivot, and thereby complete movement of thecontact member from its pivot.

8. Inan electric switch, the combination with a circuit having aterminal contact, a pivoted contact lever adapted to be turned to engageor disengage the contact terminal and a pivoted actuator lever 01movement; of the contact lever, said actuator lever in its movement onit's pivot in either direction first. engaging a portion of the contactlever a point remote from its pivot to cause initial movement of thecontact lever and finally to engage a portion of the contact lever pointnear its pivot to increase the speed or movement thereof, and a springreleased to actuation of the actuator at about the time of t 'itactthereof with the point of the contact lever nearest its pivot.

9.111 switch an electric circuit, a contact lever, an actuator lever formoving the. contact lever to make or break the circult, the actuatorlever being insulated from the-circuit, said contact lever beingarrangedwith two parts for engagement by the actuator, one of said parts beingnear the pivot point of the actuator and the other a distance therefromwhereby movementof the actuator, lever first; exerts comparativelygreat. power in movement of the contact member and then by engagementwith the part distant from its pivot moves the con tact lever wi hcomparatively great speed, the two levers being so arranged as toprevent the parts moving out of relationship.

10. An electric switch comprising a terminal contact, acontact levermoving to engage and disengage the terminal Contact,

an acuater iever fer waving i'ze 99mm Eaves, sai aamamr ,iaver is: sismawsment w disengage tha coniact ievea imm the terminai contmfi, firstengaging the oontat kevez' with more pawerziui ievar-ge m cause iheiniiiai movement of the contact lever and thereafier engaging the conactEwe? WM: 21 less pewasrfui Zeveraga m accemte size mpvpment of the leveras it finally breaks ,cpmacfia with the tetminal contact, said ac-Euaim' lever locking said contact lever in its final open positiom intestimony whreof, 1 sign this specifi cation.

JAMES H. DEHEQ EBZ.

